M
API Matrix

iDigBio API

Science & Math / No Auth Required Beginner HTTPS
Free to Use Varies (check documentation)
87 Score
Grade A
Visit Official Site Compare Alternatives

Overview

iDigBio is a free API that gives you access to millions of digitized natural history museum specimens from institutions across the United States and beyond. You can search for specimens by species, location, date, or institution and retrieve detailed occurrence records. It is a great resource for biodiversity research and educational projects.

💡

Beginner Tip

Use the records search endpoint with a simple scientific name filter to quickly retrieve specimen records. The API supports pagination so start with a small limit value to understand the data before fetching large datasets.

Available Data

iDigBio data via REST API
JSON-formatted response data
Freely accessible without authentication

Example Response

JSON Response 
{
  "status": "success",
  "data": {
    "result": "Data from iDigBio",
    "description": "Access millions of museum specimens from organizations around the world",
    "timestamp": "2025-01-15T10:00:00Z"
  }
}

Field Reference

itemCount Total number of records matching the search query.
items Array of specimen record objects matching the query.
uuid Unique iDigBio identifier for the specimen record.
data.dwc:scientificName Scientific name of the organism as provided by the institution.
data.dwc:locality Textual description of the collection location.
indexTerms.geopoint Latitude and longitude coordinates of the collection site.

Implementation Example 

const url = "https://github.com/idigbio/idigbio-search-api/wiki";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

400 Bad Request The request JSON body is malformed or uses incorrect field names.
✓ Ensure the rq object uses valid iDigBio field names; consult the field list in the API wiki.
Empty itemCount in response No specimens match the search query criteria.
✓ Try broadening the search by using genus only or removing location filters.
Connection timeout The query is too broad and takes too long to process on the server.
✓ Add more specific filters such as country or date range to narrow down the result set.

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 30/30
⚡ Speed 20/20
🔒 Security 15/15
🛠 Developer XP 15/20
✓ Reliability 7/15
Response Time 44ms

Fully tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth No Auth
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS UNKNOWN
Category Science & Math
Difficulty Beginner
Verified: 2026-04-04

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